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Jan 23, 2024

Boiler expert shares easy settings change to help save money on your energy bills

Some two-second setting tweaks on your boiler could save you money on energy

Some two-second setting tweaks on your boiler could save you money on energy bills.

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Better weather is finally starting to set in, which means that we won't need to spend quite us much on our heating as we have over winter.

However, there are still important changes that you could make which might help chop down energy bills over the coming months, according to an expert.

Martyn Bridges, Director of Technical Services at Worcester Bosch, has spoken to the Mirror to share some of the things that you can do to reduce bills.

Firstly the expert advises checking your boiler and if it's a combi boiler, you should consider turning off your pre-heat function.

He said: "If you have a Combi boiler, it's very likely to have a pre-heat function. Its job is to fire the boiler periodically to keep the hot water heat exchanger warm even if no hot water demand occurs.

"Its function ensures you get hot water at a usable temperature quicker when you open a hot water outlet, particularly during winter when the incoming mains water is colder.

"However, as we all begin to enjoy the warmer weather, mains water is naturally a little bit warmer. This means that this pre-heat function isn't as necessary, and you can turn it off to save that little bit extra on gas and electricity."

As well as this, there's also a very quick trick you can do with your tap that can help your boiler run more efficiently.

Martyn continues: "Saving money on your energy bills over the coming months doesn't always require a hands-on adjustment to your boiler settings.

"For example, we can reduce how hard your boiler works without even touching it. Is your bathroom fitted with a basin mixer tap with one lever that you turn to the right to get cold water and to the left to get hot water?

"Why not try and moderate your normal behaviour of just turning the lever towards you when you want water for teeth brushing or washing your hands?

"If you have a combi boiler, you inadvertently make the boiler fire up to produce hot water even though you don't want it."

He urges people to also take a closer look at their radiators and readjust the thermostatic radiator valves, so you can control the temperature in each individual room of their home.

"One final manual intervention for those with combi boilers could be to reduce the boiler flow temperature," says the expert. "This makes your boiler operate more efficiently at lower temperatures, and there is loads of government advice on this so you can adjust yours confidently.

"Adjusting the heating flow temperature from where it is presently to around 60 centigrade will undoubtedly improve the efficiency of your boiler over the coming months."

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